YC3 Liaisons

Yale College Community Care ( YC3), a program created through the collaboration between Yale College and Yale Mental Health and Counseling, expands mental health and wellness support to Yale College’s diverse undergraduate student community. In addition to the services that remain available to students via the department of Yale Mental Health and Counseling, the YC3 program offers students additional options for support. The YC3 program provides students the ability to drop-in with a team member during a day/time of their choosing. They meet with students individually and through group opportunities. In addition to these services, YC3 team members can assist students who are thinking about pursuing more formal, ongoing therapy through Yale Mental Health and Counseling. Students can schedule YC3 appointments directly. To learn more about YC3, please visit the Yale College Community Care website.

The House has the pleasure of having two YC3 Liaisons who attend our community-wide events, leads workshops and training sessions, and much more. Learn more about them below!

Whitney Simmons

Whitney Simmons, LPC, YC3 Community Wellness Specialist

Whitney Simmons (whitney.simmons@yale.edu) is passionate about helping students access and utilize skills that support their unique wellness goals. Whitney meets individuals where they are and works to help them build meaningful supports and connections within their communities. Whitney has been in the helping field for ten years and has experience with: mentoring, in-home and outpatient therapy, and delivering mental health consultation services to: communities, children, families, and individuals. Whitney has great experience and knowledge regarding interpersonal relationships, communication skills, self-care, and planning/organization, roommate issues/concerns, and athletes. Whitney is a Licensed Professional Counselor born in raised in New Haven, CT. Whitney earned her Master’s of Art Clinical Practices degree from the University of Hartford. Whitney loves cooking and enjoys listening to podcasts.

Ricky

Ricky Belizaire, Wellness Programming, Community Wellness Specialist 

Ricky Belizaire (ricardo.belizaire@yale.edu) Committed to helping others be successful, Ricky centers his care around belief, inclusion, and empathy. He has experience working with students from many different backgrounds and communities, including first-generation college students, LGBTQ+ students, BIPOC students, and transfer students while recognizing the many intersections folks often occupy. Prior to Yale, Ricky spent two years at the University of Georgia working within the UGA Pride Center building out wellness programs and leading educational trainings that connected students to resources on campus and in the local community. Ricky has a breadth of knowledge and experience teaching about creating boundaries, time/stress management, self-care, communication skills, identity development/exploration, and transitional periods. Ricky earned his Master’s in College Student Affairs Administration from the University of Georgia and in his spare time enjoys cooking, dancing, and traveling.   

In addition to being a CWS, Ricky Belizaire supports wellness programming. Ricky provides oversight and implementation for wellness related programs and support’s YC³’s liaison campus partnerships.